Am I dead? I'd expected to hear some kind of crunch or something as Aldous snapped my neck, feel even a twinge of pain, but nothing.

I open my eyes, and he's in front of me, and oh no, he followed me, it happened so fast!

But no, I can still smell the forest, and hear our heartbeats, and...

He's not looking at me, he's staring to our right, back towards the direction we'd fled here from.

I turn, and it's so bright over there, I squint at the blinding silver until a form emerges, and my eyes begin to adjust.

A woman stands there, she's old but not as aged-looking as Astra, less lines on her face and more wisdom in her eyes. She's wearing a long shapeless white cloak with a large hood that she pulls from her bald head. The skin is marked with sparkling tattoos, as if metal has been etched into her flesh.

But she can't be actually made of flesh, because she appeared in a ball of light.

What is going on? Is this some kind of ghost, come to lead me to the afterlife?

"Aldous, Aera," she says, her voice made of ethereal silk. She's both here and not here, somehow. "Generations ago, I bound an agreement between Dorian Quinn and Andre Delacroix, what you today describe as a curse over your people. The Delacroix found a loophole and have exploited it, but with their new deception, there was no escaping the punishment for breaking the agreement."

This is the witch? Is she a ghost? Aldous draws me tightly against him, his arms around my body now instead of my head, and I wonder if he's having the same thoughts as me. Are we about to be obliterated by this ancient being?

"I have been watching things idly over the years, but I haven't been able to stop watching you." She presses the palms of her hands together, almost in prayer. "Heartrending, what you've both been through, and now, just when given the gift of happiness with one another, you're willing to give it all up to save your people."

Her words cut deeply, but also seem to warm my heart a bit, like she's caressing it with her spectral hands. That someone else has seen and acknowledged our hardship feels validating.

"This act is in the spirit of what Delian wanted, all those years ago. While your marriage and mating does not unite the alphas by blood, Lydia's defection and your willingness to try with her will. She has a hard road ahead of her with her family, but when she is alpha, I see a bright future ahead where your packs can live in harmony."

I was sure I was out of tears before, but they begin anew. I can't quite wrap my mind around what she's insinuating, but my heart wants to hope.

"I have lifted the curse," the witch says, and my knees give out.

Aldous catches me, holding me against him tighter than ever before. We'd almost done it, we'd been so close to being apart forever, and to have it all taken back, all given back to us like this. The relief is so overwhelming that my body can't handle it.

"Those that are sick now will recover naturally," she continues, and holds up a palm. "But the sickness of the mind and heart is harder to break. You must work with Lydia to mend fences with her pack. The Delacroix's will be a challenge." She presses her hands together again, and bows her head. "It is finished, and Delian and I can move on, now. I have been tied to this plane for far too long."

"Thank you," I manage to choke out. "Thank you for giving us this gift."

The witch smiles wanly, her body already becoming translucent as she fades away. "I hope it remains a gift," she says. "Treat it well."

Aldous and I stare in silence as she fades away completely, leaving nothing but the dim morning light filtering through the leaves of the tall trees.

Finally, he looks down at me. "We're alive," he whispers.

I reach up a shaky hand to touch his beautiful face. "We're alive."

* * *

Aldous carries Ellis' body back home—home, this is my home, now and forever—on foot, the two of us hand in hand. We stay quiet the whole time, simply enjoying the walk, each other, living, breathing, and not being on a time limit of death.

When we return, Aldous explains to his anxiously waiting wolves—and Lydia, who has patiently remained—what has happened, and the relief is palpable.

He organizes a group to travel with us to transport Ellis' body and escort Lydia back to the Delacroix's. We need to meet with them and explain everything, hopefully solidifying a proper alliance agreement.

I'm amazed, really, that Marla and Cedric haven't shown up with an army, thinking their daughter kidnapped. The witch had it right that we all have our work cut out for us.

But I'd much rather be doing this, working hard, next to my mate, my love, than in the afterlife wandering alone without him.

As our travelling group organizes, some of the servant wolves arrive with plates of food for Aldous and I. My stomach grumbles loudly, and my mate lifts a slice of meat and brings it to my lips instead of his own. We feed each other in this way until we're sated, the colour returning to our cheeks.

Another servant brings clothes, and my face flushes when I realize this whole time I'm still wearing his ritual robes. They've been my security blanket, keeping his scent shrouding my body. I almost wish I could wear them when I have to face the Delacroix pack today.

I reluctantly pull the garment off and hold them out to him. He folds them over one arm as I dress in the gown the servant has brought for me. It's long and blue, understated and functional but pretty, with artful laces up the front.

Once it's secured, I turn back to Aldous, and to my surprise, he slings his robes back over my shoulders.

Tears spring to my eyes, unbidden. "Thank you," I whisper, as he takes me in his arms.

"What we have is a gift to be nurtured," he says into my hair, holding me close. "We are strong together."

He's right. And I feel strong. I'm no longer the omega that has cowered beneath the Delacroix's her whole life. I am Queen of the Quinn pack, mate to the alpha. I will hold my head high as we deliver Lydia to her parents and declare peace between our packs.

It is us that have brought the end of the curse, our willing sacrifice that took away the sickness. And it is us that will bring forth the future.

I put my hands on either side of his face, staring up into his shining eyes. "I love you, Aldous Quinn."

He smiles, swelling my heart a hundred times, and replies, "And I love you, Aera Quinn."